Being the newest and highest-end addition to AMD’s A-series APU lineup, not only does the A8-3870K feature the much raved about integrated Radeon HD 6550D, but it comes with fully unlocked multipliers for both the CPU and GPU portions. This ensures that it will be easier than ever to extract every bit of additional performance from this budget-oriented Fusion-based processor.

I'm thinking hypothetically here, but it would be rather interesting to replace the graphics half of the Llano with a giant L3 cache and release that contraption clocked at ~3.5ish GHz (EDIT + unlocked multi). We know Athlon II is crippled by the way it has no L3, so the CPU half of Llano should pass the Phenom 980 and knock at the door of the Core i3 if it had L3 cache. (Well it's either that or somehow pair it with RAM clocked at 3 GHz )

__________________"The computer programmer says they should drive the car around the block and see if the tire fixes itself." [src]

I'm thinking hypothetically here, but it would be rather interesting to replace the graphics half of the Llano with a giant L3 cache and release that contraption clocked at ~3.5ish GHz (EDIT + unlocked multi). We know Athlon II is crippled by the way it has no L3, so the CPU half of Llano should pass the Phenom 980 and knock at the door of the Core i3 if it had L3 cache. (Well it's either that or somehow pair it with RAM clocked at 3 GHz )

Would essentially just make it a Die shrink of a phenom processor you mean? which is what a lot of people have been asking for.

Would essentially just make it a Die shrink of a phenom processor you mean? which is what a lot of people have been asking for.

P.S nice review, great overclock on the IGP

Seeing AMD latest "roadmap", that unfortunately won't be happening, though a Phenom die shrink would probably get more attention than the upcomming Piledriver, but this dead horse has been beaten enough already.